Rotary sleeve valve engine



June 26, 1934. s sMlTH 1,964,369

ROTARY SLEEVE VALVE ENGINE Filed Feb. 19, 1931 INVENTOR SHIIUEL B. Sly/TH BY gyw ATTORNEYS Patented June 26, I934 UNITED STATES ROTARY SLEEVE VALVE ENGINE Samuel B. Smith,

Rocky River, Ohio Application February 19, 1931, Serial No. 516,870

7 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary sleeve valve engines in which the sleeve is simultaneously given a reciprocating and a rotary movement.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced in simultaneously reciprocating and rotating a sleeve in an engine of this type primarily due to the tendency of the sleeve actuating means to cause the sleeve to bind in the cylinder. This binding tendency of the sleeve has increased wear between the sleeve and cylinder and also causes wear in the sleeve actuating means, so that use will render the operation of the parts ineflicient.

The general object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art by the provision of improved sleeve actuating means and of means for frictionlessly positioning the sleeve so that the tendency of the sleeve to bind is eliminated.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the intake and exhaust ports on the same side of the cylinder in alignment with the bearing means for positioning the sleeve whereby the differential pressure on the inside and outside of the sleeve will hold the sleeve in substantial leak-proof engagement with the cylinder wall adjacent the ports.

Another object of the invention is the provision of sealing rings in conjunction with the rotating reciprocating sleeve which serve to seal between the sleeve and the cylinder.

It is an object of the invention to provide an engine of this type in which the arrangement and movement of the parts gives a long-wearing,

" smoothly-performing and efiicient engine.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken thru an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1, with the view being broken off so that only one cylinder and its mechanism is shown;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of means for moving the sleeve.

For illustrative purposes the invention has been shown and described in conjunction with a four stroke cycle gasoline engine having aligned air cooled cylinders, although it will be understood that the principles of the invention are ,roadly applicable to pumps and motors of all types.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 6 indicates a motor crank case upon which is mounted a plurality of aligned cylinders which may take the form of individual air cooled cylinders '7, one only being shown in he drawing. Each cylinder '7 is capped by a suitable head 8, formed to receive charge firing means such as a spark plug 9. A crank shaft 11 is journaled in the case 6 and is connected to a piston 12 in the cylinder 7 thru the agency of a connecting rod 13.

A sleeve 14 is provided between the piston 12 and the cylinder '7, which sleeve is formed with diametrically opposite openings or ports 15, which are adapted to register with an exhaust port 16, and an intake port 17 formed in the cylinder '7. (See Figure 3.) Expanding piston rings 18 and internal contracting rings 19 serve to seal between the piston and sleeve and between the;

sleeve and cylinder respectively.

The lower end of the sleeve 14 is cut on an angle (see Figure 1) so that one side thereof is a distance X above the other side thereof. A worm gear 21 is provided on the bottom of the sleeve 14, which gear is cut or generated to conform with the angle on the bottom of the sleeve. The worm gear 21 is driven from an auxiliary shaft 22, journaled in the crank case 6, which shaft is provided with a worm 23 which engages with the worm gear 21. The auxiliary shaft 22 is driven from the crank shaft 11 thru suitable gearing 24, 25 and 26.

The relation between the gearing 24, 25 and 26 and the worm 23 and worm gear 21 is such in the embodiment of the invention shown, that the sleeve 14 will revolve one half a revolution while the crank shaft 11 is revolving twice.

In order to prevent the sleeve 14 from binding in the cylinder, frictionless bearing means are provided to hold the worm gear 21 in engagement, with the worm 23. In the form of the invention illustrated these means comprise a combined radial and thrust bearing 27, journaled on a suitable boss 28 in the crank case 6, which bearing is formed with a flange 29 engaging with and behind a bevel 30 on the lower end of the sleeve 1 To assist in properly positioning the worm gear 21 with respect to the worm 23, the bottom of the cylinder '7 is not cut on an angle but is formed with a narrow arcuate lug 31 which extends downward and bears against the upper side of the worm gear 21.

In utilizing the invention with a plurality of aligned cylinders every other worm and mating worm gear is made of opposite hand so that there is no end thrust on the shaft 22. Moreover the shaft 22 revolves as shown in the arrows so that the downward thrust of the worm on the sleeve is received by the bearing 2'7, so that there is but little frictional wear between the lug 31 and the upper edge of the worm gear 21.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l, the worm 23 and the worm gear 21 have been replaced by helical gears 32 and 33. The bearing means for preventing the sleeve from binding are substantially the same as in the form shown in Figure 1, with the exception that the engaging surfaces between the bevel on the bottom of the sleeve and the bearing are at somewhat less of an angle, as indicated at 34.

The operation of the apparatus is briefly as follows: The sleeve 14 is rotated one half a revolution for two revolutions, or four strokes, or one cycle of the crank shaft. The sleeve will also be given an up and down or reciprocating motion by the sleeve rotating means, which prevents undue wear on the sleeve in the vicinity of the rings 18 and 19, and also prevents the rings from sticking to the sleeve. The bearing means 27 acts at all times to hold the sleeve in the center of the cylinder and the gear means thereon in engagement with the gear means on the auxiliary shaft.

The parts are shown in the drawing just at the point where the charge is fired. With the ports placed, as shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the crank shaft will revolve thru approximately 135, which revolves the sleeve some 34, thus bringing port 15 into alignment with exhaust port 16 for the exhaust stroke, which is approximately 225 for the crank shaft and 56 for the sleeve. Further rotation will bring the port 15 into alignment with intake port 17 for approximately 225 of revolution of the crank shaft and 56 for the sleeve. The ports 15 and 17 will then move out of alignment for approximately 135 revolution of the crank shaft and 34 revolution of the sleeve, which is the compression stroke. At this point the charge is fired and the operation repeated using the second port 15.

From a study of Figure 1, it will be seen that the port 15 is somewhat above the port 16, with the parts in the position shown, however, it will be apparent that when the sleeve 14 has revolved around to the ports 16 and 17, that the ports will be in substantially vertical alignment. This is because the sleeve will move downward, inasmuch as the vertical distance from the bearing 28 to the ports 16 and 17 is the same as the vertical distance from the ports 15 to the bottom of the sleeve.

By placing the intake and exhaust ports on the same side of the cylinder wall and in alignment with the bearing means 27 the differential pressures on the inside and outside of sleeve adjacent the ports will hold the sleeve over against the cylinder wall in substantial leakproof relation therewith so that no other sealing means are necessary. The bearing means 27 being in alignment with the ports assist in holding the sleeve close to the cylinder wall adjacent the ports.

While the invention has been described and illustrated for electric ignition engines, the features thereof are readily applicable to Diesel or other internal combustion engines, and also are broadly applicable to pumps and engines as will be apparent.

A particular embodiment of the invention has been fully described and illustrated in compliance with the patent statutes, however, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but is defined in scope by the appended claims. The various details of construction, such as the exact location of the ports, the type of head and cylinder, and the like, are given as illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in an engine, a cylinder, a valve sleeve in said cylinder, means for simultaneously reciprocating and rotating said sleeve, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said sleeve, means synchronizing the movements of said piston and said sleeve and means for holding the sleeve out of substantial wearing contact with any one portion of the cylinder wall.

2. In combination in an engine, a cylinder, a valve sleeve in said cylinder, means for rotating said sleeve, and means for holding the sleeve out of substantial wearing contact with any one portion of the cylinder wall.

3-. In combination in an engine, a cylinder, a valve sleeve in said cylinder, gear means for actuating said sleeve, a piston mounted for reciprocating movements in said sleeve, means synchronizing the movements of said piston and said sleeve and means for holding the sleeve out of substantial wearing contact with any one portion or" the cylinder Wall.

4. In combination in an engine, a cylinder, a valve sleeve in said cylinder, gear means for simultaneously reciprocating and rotating said sleeve, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said sleeve, means synchronizing the movements of said piston and said sleeve and means for holding said gear means in engagement and the sleeve out of substantial wearing contact with any one portion of the cylinder wall, said means including a circular member which is journaled adjacent the lower edge of the sleeve, the lower and inner edge of the sleeve being beveled and the outer periphery of the circular member being cut to engage with and behind the beveled end of the sleeve.

5. In combination in an engine, a cylinder, a valve sleeve in said cylinder, gear means for simultaneously reciprocating and rotating said sleeve, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said sleeve, means synchronizing the movements of said piston and said sleeve and means for holding said gear means in engagement and the sleeve out of substantial wearing contact with any one portion of the cylinder wall, said means including a circular member which is journaled adjacent the lower edge of the sleeve and which engages with and behind the lower edge of the sleeve.

6. In combination in an engine, a cylinder, a valve sleeve in said cylinder, and means for holding the sleeve out of substantial wearing contact with any one portion of the cylinder wall, said means including a circular member which is journaled adjacent the lower edge of the sleeve, the lower and inner edge of the sleeve being beveled and the outer periphery of the circular member being cut to engage with, and behind the beveled end of the sleeve.

'7. In combination in an engine of the type described, a cylinder, a sleeve valve in said cylinder, gear means including a helical gear on the bottom of the sleeve valve for simultaneously reciprocating and rotating said sleeve valve, bearing means engaging the lower edge of the sleeve and holding the helical gear on the bottom of the sleeve in engagement with its actuating gear means, said cylinder being formed with intake and exhaust ports in alignment with the bearing means.

SAMUEL B. SMITH. 

